Magnetic reproducer and magnetic reproduction method

Abstract

A magnetic reproducer for reproducing data recorded on a magnetic tape by forming tracks sequentially and obliquely along a longitudinal direction of the magnetic tape, has magnetic heads for reproducing the information by sequentially scanning the tracks formed on the magnetic tape with a first track width for a first recording system or a second track width for a second recording system wider than that for the first recording system. And, a gap width between the magnetic heads is set at a value which is wider than the first track width and narrower than the second track width.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A magnetic reproducer for reproducing data recorded on a magnetic tape by forming tracks sequentially and obliquely along a longitudinal direction of said magnetic tape, comprising 
       magnetic heads for reproducing said information by sequentially scanning said tracks formed on said magnetic tape with a first track width for a first recording system or a second track width for a second recording system wider than that for said first recording system, wherein  
       a gap width between said magnetic heads is set at a value which is wider than said first track width and narrower than said second track width.  
     
     
       2. The magnetic reproducer according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
       said first recording system is a recording system in which said information is recorded as a digital signal on said magnetic tape;  
       said second recording system is a recording system in which said information is recorded as an analog signal on said magnetic tape; and  
       said gap width between said magnetic heads is set at a close value to said second track width for said second recording system rather than said first track width for said first recording system.  
     
     
       3. The magnetic reproducer according to  claim 1 , wherein 
       said first recording system is a recording system in which said information for at least two tracks in a data format for a predetermined digital recording system is continuously recorded on one track of said magnetic tape corresponding to said second recording system which is wider than a tape width corresponding to said first recording system; and  
       said second recording system is a recording system in which said information is recorded as an analog signal on said magnetic tape.  
     
     
       4. The magnetic reproducer according to  claim 3 , wherein: 
       said first track width is 16.34 μm;  
       said second track width is 20.5 μm; and  
       said gap width between said magnetic heads is set within a range from 17.0 to 20.0 μm.  
     
     
       5. A magnetic reproduction method of reproducing information recorded on a magnetic tape by forming tracks sequentially and obliquely along a longitudinal direction of a magnetic tape, comprising: 
       a first step of reproducing said information by sequentially scanning said tracks formed on said magnetic tape with a first track width for a first recording system or with a second track width for a second recording system which is wider than that for said first recording system while running said magnetic tape at a predetermined speed; and  
       a second step for performing predetermined signal processing on said information reproduced from said magnetic tape, wherein  
       said information is reproduced from said magnetic tape using said magnetic heads having a gap widths wider than said first track width and narrower than said second track width.  
     
     
       6. The magnetic reproduction method according to  claim 5 , wherein: 
       said first recording system is a recording system in which said information is recorded as a digital signal on said magnetic tape;  
       said second recording system is a recording system in which said information is recorded as an analog signal on said magnetic tape; and  
       said gap width between said magnetic heads is set at a value which is close to said second track width for said second recording system rather than said first track width for said first recording system.  
     
     
       7. The magnetic reproduction method according to  claim 5 , wherein: 
       said recording system is a recording system in which said information for at least two tracks in a data format for a predetermined digital recording system is continuously recorded on one track of said magnetic tape corresponding to said second recording system which is wider than a tape width corresponding to said first recording system; and  
       said second recording system in a recording system in which said information is recorded as an analog signal on said magnetic tape.  
     
     
       8. The magnetic reproduction method according to  claim 7 , wherein: 
       said first track width is approximately 16.34 μm;  
       said second track width is 20.5 μm; and  
       said gap width between said magnetic heads is set within a range from 17.0 to 20.0 μm.